Tag: Travers

War Dead

World War One

A commemorative plaque to the men of the parish who gave their lives in the First World War can be found in the New Church of Kingston St. James. It starts:

IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919

The names inscribed are shown below, together with further information established about each serviceman killed where known:

Richard BYDDER

Richard St. George Bydder was a Master Mariner in the Mercantile Marine and died on 18 July 1920. He was the sister of Kingston school teacher Beatrice Allen nee Bydder.

Sidney COOK

No information located as yet.

Edwin COOPER

No information located as yet.

George DAVIS

George Davis was a Corporal with the Royal Garrison Artillery 11th Seige Battery (service number 137061) who died on 1 November 1917. George is commemorated at Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium (grave/memorial reference X11. D. 8.).

Harry FURMAGE

Henry James Furmage, known as ‘Harry’, was a Private with the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 100 Company (service number 14992) who died of wounds on 21 August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. Harry is also commemorated on the war memorial at Corfe Castle. He was buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, Somme, France (grave/memorial reference III. F. 23.).

Harry was the second of two children born to clay miner James Furmage (1862-1956) and his wife Elizabeth Ellen Furmage nee Burgess (1859-1930). Harry was baptised at Corfe Castle on 7 July 1889. By 1901 his father had become a dairyman and the family were living at Afflington Dairy House near Kingston. By 1911 the family were at Scoles Dairy with Harry and his brother Thomas both Assistant Dairymen.

Robert GRANT

Robert Grant was a Corporal with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 285th Siege Battery (service number 334335) who died on 25 March 1918 aged 23. Robert is commemorated at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Pas de Calais, France (grave/memorial reference VI. C. 25.). Robert was the son of Edward and Susan Grant, of Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset.

David HOOPER

David Hooper had served in the regular army with the Dorsetshire Regiment (service number 15705) and was discharged having completed both active and reserve service in 1910. He was called up in 1916 when the Military Service Act extended conscription to the ages of 18 – 40 years and then served as a Private with the Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment, 2nd Battalion (service number 5359).

David was listed “Missing Presumed Dead” during the German offensive “Operation Michael” launched on 21 March 1918 in an attempt to regain areas of the Somme that they had lost earlier in the war. David died on 27 March 1918 aged 40. He is commemorated at Pozieres Cemetery, near Albert, Somme, France (memorial panel 78).

David was the son of David Hooper and Emily Sarah Hooper nee White of West Street, Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Charles LOVEL

No information located as yet.

James MEDD

James Medd was a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment, 1st Battalion and also the Wiltshire Regiment, attd. 1st Battalion (service number 3/7850) who died 20 August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. James is commemorated at Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuile Wood, Somme, France (grave/memorial reference I. C. 3.).

James was the son of Thomas Swan Medd (1846-1919) and Emily Ann Medd nee White (1843-1893).

Albert SPECK

Albert George Speck was a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 112th Siege Battery (service number 55793) who died on 21 March 1918 aged 20. Albert is commemorated at Beaumetz Cross Roads Cemetery, Beaumetz-les-Cambrai, Pas de Calais, France (grave/memorial reference B. 11.). Albert was the son of Walter and Mary Speck, of West Hill, Kingston, Dorset.

Harry STEVENS

Harry Stevens was a Private with the Dorsetshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion (service number 27367) who died on 16 July 1917 aged 34. Harry is commemorated at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq (grave/memorial reference XV. C. 11.).

Harry was the son of the late John Stevens (1848-1915) and Mary Stevens nee Savage (1848-1898), of Eastington Farm, Swanage and husband of Alice ‘Daisy’ Maria Stevens nee Howard (1892-1976) of Blashenwell Farm, Kingston, Dorset. Harry and Daisy had a son Laurie Howard Stevens (1912-2005) and twins May Howard Stevens and Edward Howard Stevens both of whom sadly died shortly after birth in 1914.

Frederick STICKLAND

Frederick John Stickland was a Private with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, 6th Battalion (service number 29199) who died on 23 August 1917 aged 19. Frederick is commemorated at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave/memorial reference LXVI. H. 29.). Frederick was the son of Alice Mary Stickland, of Encombe, Kingston, Corfe Castle, Dorset, and the late Edward Stickland.

Henry TRAVERS

Henry Lawrance Travers was a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 278th Siege Battery (service number 334312) who died on 30 May 1918 aged 26. Henry is commemorated at Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-les-Pernois, Somme, France (grave/memorial reference I. E. 13.). Henry was the son of Henry ‘George’ Travers (1866-1951) and Bessie Maud Travers nee Speck (1870-1954) of South Street, Kingston, Corfe Castle. He left a widow Ellen Olive Travers nee Burden (1895-1968) of Tadnoll Cottage, near Dorchester and two children Thomas Henry William Travers (1915-2004) and Margaret ‘Joyce’ Travers (1917-2007).

World War Two

Beneath the many body of the commemorative plaque dedicated to those who gave their lives in the First World War is the following simple inscription:

The names inscribed are shown below, together with further information established about each serviceman killed where known:

Ronald BEAVIS

Ronald Henry Beavis was a Sergeant with the Royal Engineers. He died in September 1943 and was buried at Kingston.

Henry KELLAWAY

Able Seaman Henry Charles Kellaway (service number P/JX 249485) was serving with H.M.S. President III., Royal Navy. Henry died on 13 August 1942 aged 28. Henry was the son of Charles Henry and Lilian Kellaway, of Kingston, Dorset and the husband of Kathleen May Kellaway. Henry is remembered with honour on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Douglas John HIXSON

Douglas John ‘Jack’ Hixson (1920-1949) is believed to have been invalided during World War 2. He died at The Borough Sanitorium, Weymouth on 14 November 1949 aged 29. Jack was buried at Kingston on 19 November 1949.

Jack was the son of Albert ‘Ernest’ Hixson (1886-1962) and Elsie Hixson nee Collins (1885-1957).

J

Cricket Club

kingston cricket ground 1926

Kingston Cricket Ground, with pavillion, to the south of the village, on the site of the former Rope Factory

In his book ‘Odds and Ends from My Century’ (1992), Bob Dorey wrote:

Kingston had cricket teams. The Earl had his own team, including, of course, the Vicar, who had been a Cambridge Blue, and other local gentry; the Earl also took the four best of the village lads to play in his team.

 

There was also a village team. Twice during the summer they would play the Earl’s team, once “at home” for the Earl on his well kept pitch out on Steart Field (above “London Doors”) and once on the village pitch up in “Rope Walk” (a field at the top of South Street, … the site of a rope-making works in earlier times). Traditionally refreshments at half time were provided by the Earl, as was a roller to keep the pitches in good order.

 

As a young man, a little while after coming back from the war, I found myself Secretary trying to restart the Cricket Club. The Earl, and his Team, had gone; so had the roller.

Former Vicar, the Rev. F.S. Horan commented in his book ‘From the Crack of the Pistol’:

The Kingston Cricket Club was quite a going concern. A certain Ernest Hixson was Captain – a tricky left-hand bowler; and we had a redoubtable demon bowler in one of the Dorey family – Arthur. With a long run and a hop, skip and jump, he would deliver a ball calculated, on a rough village wicket, to strike terror into the most intrpid bastsman.

 

Ken Orchard (son of Charley Orchard and Mrs. Orchard the postmistress) was our champion heavy-weight slogger. He used to stride up to the wicket with his bat over his shoulder, a braod assured grin on his face – a Hercules, but for the leopard skin. Fielders fell back – he took his centre – and then with every ball bowled it was “six” or “out” with him. Ken certainly didn’t believe in slow cricket – he quickly brought any match to life. We had fixtures with most of the villages round and our Kingston boys generally gave a good account of themselves.

Match Reports

1922

KINGSTON v. CORFE CASTLE

Played at Kingston on Saturday, and won by Corfe Castle by 32 runs. Scores:- Corfe, 66 (Major Woodhouse 20, Dr. Drury, not out, 18); Kingston, 34 (Jeffs 12). Loxton bowled well for the home side, and Savage and Beath for Corfe.

Western Gazette, 25 August 1922

1925 – WAREHAM AND DISTRICT LEAGUE

KINGSTON v. CORFE CASTLE

Played at Kingston on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for the home team by 79 runs. Batting first Corfe Castle made a bad start, and lost five wickets for 28 runs, the total reaching 84 (Colonel Strange 31). The home team made a good reply, the first wicket putting on 35 runs, and the Corfe total was passed with five wickets in hand, the total eventually reaching 163, the last wicket putting on 38 runs (G. Travers 41, Loxton 22, Hixson 20). For Kingston Hunt took four wickets for 18 and Hixson three for 18. The most successful bowler for Corfe was the Rev. F. Corfield, with five for 49.

Western Gazette, 24 July 1925

1931 – DIVISION I.

CORFE CASTLE DEFEATED BY KINGSTON

By 47 runs (33-80) Kingston beat Corfe Castle on the latter’s ground. G. Travers (3-8), C. Dorey (4-12), and E. Hixson (3-11) were responsible for Corfe’s dismissal, whilst the chief scorers for the winners were W. Stickland (21), K. Orchard (18), Travers (12), and F. Cooper (10). Five Corfe bowlers shared the wickets – Stockley (2-5), Fooks (3-23), D. Cooper (2-16), P. Crofts (2-20), and K. Greenstock (1-10).

Western Gazette, 3 July 1931

Page last updated: 20 February 2016

Travers

Henry George ‘George’ Travers (1866-1951)

‘George’ was born at Puddletown, Dorset in 1866. He was the son of Daniel Travers and Edith Travers neé Puckett, both of whom appear to have spent some time in Dorchester Gaol! In 1871 the family were living at Wareham St. Martin and in 1881 they were living at Downshay Farmhouse, Worth Matravers. In 1886 George was a labourer living at White House, South Middlebere.

On 15 December 1886 George married Bessie Maud Speck (1870-1954) at Corfe Castle. Bessie was the third child of Henry Frank Speck (1843-1920) and Martha Maria ‘Mary’ Speck neé Marshallsay (1845-1907).

George and Bessie had eleven children. In 1901, George and Bessie were living at Barn Cottage, Kingston. By 1911 they were living at South Street, Kingston. George died in 1951 and Bessie died three years later in 1954.

Children of George and Bessie:

1.   William Herbert Travers (1887-1968)

William married Hill Bottom resident Lily Jane Mitchell  (1888-1939) in 1909. They may have had three or four children. Lily died at Gillingham in 1939 and William died there in 1968 aged 81.

2.   Arthur Lionel Travers (1889-1954)

Arthur was a labourer and married his mother’s cousin Agnes Matilda Speck (1881-1953) at Kingston on 13 December 1911. Arthur and Agnes had four children:

Frederick Arthur Travers (1913-1994)

Edna May Travers (1916-1982)

Leonard A Travers (1920-2012)

Harold George Travers (1922-1988)

3.   Winifred Rose ‘Rose’ Travers (1891-1968)

Rose married railway constable Alfred Dorey (1889-1967) at Kingston on 26 December 1914. Alfred served in France from August 1915. Alfred and Rose lived in Paddington, London and had one son:

Frederick Charles Dorey (1915-2004)

4.   Henry Lawrence Travers (1893-1918)

Henry was a groom at the time of his marriage to Ellen Olive ‘Nellie’ Burden (1895-1968) at Winfrith on 27 July 1914. Henry and Nellie had two children:

Thomas Henry W Travers (1915-2004)

Margaret J Travers (1917-?)

During World War 1, Henry served as a Gunner (service number 334312) with the 278th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery and was killed in action at The Somme on 30 May 1918. Henry is commemorated on the memorial plaque in Kingston New Church and at the Halloy-les-Pernois Cemetery. Henry’s widow Nellie later married Charles Darch (1897-1978) at Portsmouth in 1922 and they had a number of children together.

5.   Albert Horace Travers (1895-1990)

Albert was born at Kingston on 17 September 1895 and started at Kingston School on 28 September 1898 aged 3. Albert signed up for service in World War 1 at Swanage on 17 November 1914 and, like his older brother Henry,  he served as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery. Albert married Ethel Mary Hobbs (1897-1981) in 1931. Ethel died in 1981 and Albert died in 1990.

6.   Gordon Alan ‘Alan’ Travers (1897-1966)

Born at Kingston on 7 September 1897, ‘Alan’ was admitted to Kingston School aged 3 on 10 September 1900. Alan married Linda Annie Cleall (1898-1988) in 1918. Alan and Linda had four children:

Robert Cyril Travers (1915-1993)

Walter Gordon K Travers (1919-1987)

Ronald Lionel Travers (1921-2010)

Vernon George Travers (1926-1981)

Alan married  Millie Hammond (1905-1969) in 1932. Alan later lived at Oakbank Farm, Sway and died on 18 April 1966 at the Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton.

7.   Henrietta Maud ‘Maud’ Travers (1900-1974)

‘Maud’ was born at Kingston on 23 January 1900 and started at Kingston School on 23  January 1903 on her 3rd birthday. Maud married soldier Robert Ernest Bridges (1898-1926) at Hamworthy on 30 June 1917 and they had four children:

Gwendoline Bessie Maud Bridges (1917-1987) who married Encombe dairyman Randolph Francis Tuck (1913-1980) at Kingston on 3 May 1941

Gladys Bertha Maria Bridges (1919-1995)

Bernard Robert Henry Bridges (1922-1982)

Douglas Maurice Bridges (1926-1987)

Robert died in 1926 and Maud married Henry G Norris in 1931. Maud died in 1974.

8.   Edward George Travers (1901-1985)

Edward was born at Kingston on 22 October 1901 and started at Kingston School two days after his 3rd birthday. Edward married Elizabeth Mary Wills (1897-1988) in Somerset and they returned to Dorset where they had one daughter, and a son who sadly died shortly after birth.

Edward and Elizabeth later moved to Rutland where Edward died in 1985 and Elizabeth in 1988.

9.  Dorothy Annie ‘Anne’ Travers (1903-1959)

Born at Kingston on 26 September 1903, ‘Anne’ started at Kingston School on her 3rd birthday. Anne married William Stockley in 1926. William and Anne may have had six children. Anne died at Bournemouth in 1959.

10. Gerald Blaise Travers (1906-1977)

Gerald was born at Kingston on 7 August 1906 and he started at Kingston School on 6 September 1909. Gerald married Evelyn Hilda James (1909-1976) at Kingston on 26 November 1932. Evelyn was later a member of the Kingston Women’s Institute. Evelyn died in 1976 and Gerald died the following year at Swanage Hospital.

11. Phyllis Mary Travers (1908-1987)

Phyllis was born at Kingston and married Jack Young (1904-1973) at Kingston on 20 October 1928. Phyllis and Jack may have had five children. Jack died in 1973 and Phyllis died in 1987.

If you have any further information, memories, photographs etc. about the Travers family then please get in touch with us.

Page last updated: 3 January 2016

1914: December: Parish Magazine

  By

Vicar: Arthur Napier

Church Services

I hope to have the usual Lantern Services on the first three Wednesdays in Advent, namely – December 2nd, 9th and 16th, at 7 p.m.

There will be no Mid-day Service of Communion on the third Sunday of the month, but two Celebrations on Christmas morning at 8 and 11. The collections on this day will be made for the Church of England Society for Waif and Stray Children.

Confirmation

The Lord Bishop of the Diocese held a Confirmation Service at Corfe Castle on Thursday, November 26th, at 3 o’clock. Three candidates were presented from Kingston: George Caines, Seymour Tatchell and Lillian Allen.

O.H.M.S

We have now, I am proud to say, twelve (in addition to E. J. Collins, at present a prisoner of war) connected directly or indirectly with our village who are serving with the Colours.

May God protect them and enable them to be a credit to their King, their Country and their village home:

William Cooper            Fred Bullen

Walter Hunt                  Robert Grant

James Medd                 Jesse Marsh

Robert Dorey                George Davis

Jack Caines                  Alan Travers

Parish Almanacs

These Almanacs for the New Year can be had after any of the Lantern Services in December.

Baptism

Nov. 15.            Mary Geraldine de Courcy Cooper

1914: November: Parish Magazine

  By

Vicar: Arthur Napier

Our monthly collection, taken on October 25th, amounted to the sum of £3 3s. 0d. The Rev. A. C. Nickol pleaded the cause of Foreign Missions. He is the Secretary for the Church Missionary Society. Next month, November 29th (Advent Sunday) we shall have the Rev. H. Macknight once more with us to ask for our collection towards the Missions to Seamen; but, as last year, he will preach at Morning Service only.

Band of Mercy

The annual competition, in which last year our Kingston Band of Mercy was so successful, took place on Wednesday, October 14th. The names of those who have entered are: May Speck, Lillian Allen, Winnie Munden, Eva Speck, Elizabeth Fricker, Annie Travers, Annie Hunt; Edward Travers, Ralph Hunt and Albert Fricker. We all had tea after School at Mrs. Bartlett’s and went thence to the Schoolroom again for essay-writing. The result may be looked for in the early part of the New Year.

Parish Bounds

I have been here for three years, and have only just discovered that what I thought was a part of my parish is not so. I refer to Hill Bottom; I have hitherto been given to understand that the cottages on the right-hand side (as one goes towards Chapman’s Pool) and the old coastguard cottages belonged to Kingston, but on investigation of the Worth Tithe Map, I find that all these cottages, together with those on the left-hand side, are in the Parish of Worth. The only difference that this discovery will make will be that I shall cease my periodical visitation of these cottages, and (in the New Year) my issue to them of the Parish Magazine, but I shall retain in the future for the dwellers in the cottages there the same interest and affection that I have had for them in the past.

Club Room

Our excellent Club Room is now open and in use. It is another sign of Lord Eldon’s generosity. He has given us the Room and the billiard table, a handsome present, and, as time goes on, we shall appreciate it more and more. Thanks to Mr. Candy’s interest in pressing matters on, we were able to make our first evening’s use of it on Monday, October 19th.

 

1914: September: Parish Magazine

  By

Vicar: Arthur Napier

National Relief Fund

In hearty response to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales appeal that all churches and chapels should make a collection to the above fund, Kingston Church gave the largest offering which has been made by the congregation. The generous sum, £11 14s. 6d., was forwarded to Buckingham Palice on Monday, August 17th.

National Defence Society

The above offering, which was a special effort made upon an unique occasion of course substantially interfered with the usual monthly collection made on the following Sunday, August 23rd; but even so, we managed to give the Rev. F. Lombardini the sum of £2 17s. at the end of the day, after he had opened our eyes to the cause which he so eloquently pleaded at the Evening Service on that day.

The War

You will forgive me if I seem to pass by the one subject which is on our lips and in our hearts at this time; but truly I feel that there is nothing which I can in so short a space helpfully add to that which I am gradually counselling you from the pulpit.

On Sunday, August 16th, we used the full service appointed for the Church on behalf of the King’s Naval and Military forces.

Inspector’s Report

The Diocesan Inspector, the Rev. J. W. Coulter, made his annual visit and examination of the Kingston School in religious knowledge on July 30th, and afterwards sent the following most satisfactory report:

This School has had many difficulties to contend against during the year, having been closed three times for illness. In spite of this the religious knowledge is very good throughout. The teaching is most carefully given and the tone is excellent.

(Signed)     F.W. Coulter      Diocesan Inspector

Rifle Club Notes

Our rifle season closed on Saturday, August 1st, which by kind permission of Mr. Candy was allowed as a half-holiday for the purpose. The weather left much to be desired, but the shooting was not greatly interfered with by the rain. Appended is a list of prize-winners, who received their rewards from Mrs. Guise at 7.30 the same evening, to the accompaniment of a pleasant programme of music by the Band.

George Coombes, the cup and 10s.              229

Walter Beck, 8s.                                               227

Walter Dorey, 6s.                                            220

Jesse Gale, 4s.                                                   219

Thomas Joyce, Bell medal                             217

George Langtree, Roberts’ medal               211

Leonard Jeffrey, 2s.                                       211

George Davis, Express medal                       208

Charles Orchard, Daily Telegraph certificate

and S.M.R.C. Medal                              203

Arthur Travers, Daily Mail certificate      200

Baptism

Aug 16.             Alice Vincent

1914: August: Parish Magazine

  By

Vicar: Arthur Napier

Rifle Notes

Our shooting season is drawing to a close. Saturday, August 1st, is the day fixed for the final shoot for the Cup, and we have had a very pleasant series of practices. Scarcely one wet day throughout, very enjoyable meetings, and a distinct improvement in the individual shooting. The following have been successful in obtaining the S.M.R.C. badges for proficiency in the three classes:

Class A

  1. Coombes     371

Class B

  1. Coombes    360
  2. Dorey           358
  3. Langtree     351
  4. Joyce            351
  5. Beck              350

Class C

  1. Travers       345
  2. Langtree    343
  3. Coombes    341
  4. Joyce           338
  5. Orchard     336
  6. J. Gale        334
  7. Davis           334
  8. Dorey          331
  9. J.T. Light   331
  10. Hooper       331

An alteration

I am going to change the monthly collection (August 23rd) to a special object, viz., the National Society, which, in view of the Parliamentary invasion of the Church, we are asked to support. We shall know more about this Society on the Sunday mentioned, as we are to have a special preacher sent to us at one of the Services, morning or evening.

Baptisms

 (Privately)

 June 29.            Edward Howard Stevens

,,     ,,               May Howard Stevens

Burials

July 3.                 Edward Howard Stevens

July 18.               May Howard Stevens